NEW DELHI: In an extraordinary crackdown on the narcotics trade, India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has achieved a significant victory against drug trafficking on the darknet. Operating under the popular name of 'The ZAMBADA CARTEL,' these international drug syndicates were involved in the illegal import and pan-India distribution of deadly LSD. Through relentless efforts and under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the NCB Delhi Zonal Unit successfully apprehended 22 individuals associated with the cartels, while seizing a staggering 29,103 blots of LSD in the past three months.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to commend NCB's accomplishments, stating that this milestone achievement is a crucial step towards realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of a Drug-Free India. He expressed confidence that such successes would bolster the morale of all agencies involved in the battle against drugs. Shah further emphasized that no matter how advanced the technology used by drug traffickers, they can never elude the clutches of Indian law enforcement agencies.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and all other agencies of the Government of India are dedicatedly working towards achieving a drug-free nation. Following the guidance of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, the NCB Delhi Zonal Unit adopted a comprehensive approach, from top to bottom and bottom to top, resulting in the dismantling of the largest LSD cartel on the darknet.
During the three-month operation, a total of six cases were registered, and the NCB arrested 22 individuals involved in drug importation and distribution. Alongside the massive seizure of 29,103 LSD blots (a record in itself), the authorities confiscated 472 grams of MDMA powder and drug money amounting to Rs 51.38 lakh from the accused individuals.
The darknet LSD cartel, known for its utilization of social media sites for contact and employing couriers with fake addresses and mobile numbers for deliveries, used only cryptocurrencies for payment transactions. However, with intensive cyber patrolling and a combination of technical and field surveillance, NCB successfully launched a major operation on April 19, 2023. The operation led to the busting of the second-largest darknet LSD cartel in the country, with the seizure of approximately 15,000 LSD blots (over 2,500 times the commercial quantity) and 44 grams of MDMA, along with the freezing of drug money totaling 24.65 lakhs.
LSD, a hallucinogenic drug that is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, poses a significant threat to public health and safety. The NCB, as an organization, remains steadfast in its efforts to curb the misuse of digital platforms for drug trafficking.
To address the menace of drug trafficking via the darknet, NCB organized the DARKATHON, a platform aimed at recognizing and rewarding young, innovative minds for developing solutions to counter darknet activities.
In conclusion, the recent crackdown on the two major darknet LSD cartels represents a remarkable achievement in India's ongoing battle against the narcotics trade. With the support and guidance of the government's top leadership, the NCB is determined to create a drug-free India, safeguarding the nation's youth and securing a better future for all.
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